Topic ID 5142
I've heard it's been closed for the last few nights. Can anyone confirm/deny? What with the demise of Bengal Spice, if this is true I may just have to move!!
Reply ID 72648
I noticed it was closed last night too, as i mentioned in a previous post it seemed to be falling into disrepair over the last 6 months.
Reply ID 72649
Isn't the Thai rack premises part of the HHH expansion?
Reply ID 72651
quote:No. HHH owns Nos.1 and 2-4 Fore Street. The Thai Rack is 6 Parliament Square. Thai Ltd has just had a planning application approved for the building. http://e-services.eastherts.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=3/09/1917/LB
Originally posted by James007
Isn't the Thai rack premises part of the HHH expansion?
Reply ID 73453
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, although have been informed of its content over the years from a friend. It has been difficult to remain silent but I thought that now might be a good time to let people know what's happening. I own Thai Rack (including freehold) as I have done for 5 years. Yes, this is in the name of Thai Ltd. We have unfortunately allowed the restaurant to get into a state of disrepair for several reasons. The main one being that this Grade 2 listed building has severe susidence and I have been fighting an ongoing battle with the insurers/Thames Water/loss adjusters/a very awkward neighbour (need I say more) to repair the premises. Work has just started and provided we are unhindered by said neighbour then we hope to reopen in about 5 months. We are not going to rush it since we want to get it right. During the last 5 years I have continually (perhaps foolishly) thought that starting the repairs was just around the corner. It has been a very stressful time which I hope will lessen soon. There was no point in starting the refurbishment work until the subsidence was resolved. The restaurant will remain a Thai restaurant but I expect and hope it to be better in every way. Please feel free to ask questions, and if I am able to answer them them I will. Please note that despite regular pressure, overtures [;)]etc etc from Mr Shipton of HHH, this building will become part of his empire over my dead body at any price. Thanks to the many kind comments I haveheard over the years, and constructive critism is welcome. Cheers
Reply ID 73460
He (Mr Shipton) hasn't got or probably never will have an empire, so don't worry too much............
Reply ID 73480
Mosquito can you confirm if the kitchens are getting a upgrade too.
Reply ID 73483
Welcome Mosquito. Good first post, your local knowledge and insight will be a valuable bonus for this site. I look forward to the new restaurant.
Reply ID 73494
I have enjoyed all of the meals I have eaten in your restuarant, I appreciate your candour and wish you every success
Reply ID 73503
Thanks for the information Mosquito. We've enjoyed eating in Thai Rack in the past and look forward to doing so again when the work is done.
Reply ID 73527
Thanks for the nice comments. The kitchen at the moment is at the rear on the ground floor. The approved plans mean that the restaurant will be slightly expanded on the ground floor and the kitchen relocated upstairs directly above its present position. This is the only area of new build. The toilets will be made much larger and plusher and located near the top of the stairs (first floor). Disabled toilet downstairs. The upstairs restaurant area will be made slightly larger. We are losing the staff accommodation and renting/buying a flat locally. I also live in Hertford. The restaurant will be similar to our (only) other restaurant run by my wife and I. This is in Berkhamsted, Herts. The website is thaicottage.com. Reviews, not written myself (or anyone I know) can be read on thailand-uk.com! The interior will be fitted with reclaimed Teak wood. Most of this wood is from large trees felled over 100 years ago and previously used in the construction of local houses in Thailand. Our contact in Bangkok, purchases the timber, strips it back and then constructs the traditional pattern Thai wood panelling. All this is already made and is at present in storage. Obviously things never go exactly to plan but it should all be pleasing to the eye. We prefer the traditional Thai look rather than contemporary design.
Reply ID 73547
Having been to Thailand a couple of times, and eaten in some of the small tucked away restaurants, I hope you will be serving authentic Thai dishes which haven't been "westernised".
Reply ID 73549
Hi Buzz I could give you a really long answer explaining why our food will be as authentic as you will get or I could say come and try it when we are open. Which would you prefer? Please look at the reviews I suggested or visit our other restaurant and you can decide for yourself. If you want the long answer please give me a day or two to get back to you!
Reply ID 73563
quote:Thanks for your prompt reply. I will certainly be looking forward to visiting the New Thai Rack when it re-opens. Bit intrigued, though, about the "long answer"!
Originally posted by Mosquito
Hi Buzz I could give you a really long answer explaining why our food will be as authentic as you will get or I could say come and try it when we are open. Which would you prefer? Please look at the reviews I suggested or visit our other restaurant and you can decide for yourself. If you want the long answer please give me a day or two to get back to you!
Reply ID 73571
Hi I am mate of Rico and live in Hertford. Is Rico involved in the work on the restaurant in his professional capacity?
Reply ID 73573
Hi adman (we have met)! Yes he did all the external design work, planning apps, listed building consent etc Cheers
Reply ID 73610
Wooohoooo!!! So glad you're planning to re-open. Your food and staff are top notch - the manager is a delight and very polite and friendly. Will the majority of the kitchen staff be retained for when you re-open? Good luck with all the work and I look forward to eating there soon!
Reply ID 73611
quote:Have you eaten there recently buzz?
Originally posted by buzz
Having been to Thailand a couple of times, and eaten in some of the small tucked away restaurants, I hope you will be serving authentic Thai dishes which haven't been "westernised".
Reply ID 73612
quote:Eaten where? Thailand or Thai Rack?
Originally posted by gregbquote:Have you eaten there recently buzz?
Originally posted by buzz
Having been to Thailand a couple of times, and eaten in some of the small tucked away restaurants, I hope you will be serving authentic Thai dishes which haven't been "westernised".
Reply ID 73630
quote:Thai Rack.
Originally posted by buzzquote:Eaten where? Thailand or Thai Rack?
Originally posted by gregbquote:Have you eaten there recently buzz?
Originally posted by buzz
Having been to Thailand a couple of times, and eaten in some of the small tucked away restaurants, I hope you will be serving authentic Thai dishes which haven't been "westernised".
Reply ID 73632
No haven't eaten there for a while. Why?
Reply ID 73634
Hi Greg All the staff will be retained but we will probably be getting 3 extra full time staff from restaurants/hotels in Thailand. We are advertising in the Bangkok Post at this time. Cheers
Reply ID 73641
Whats wrong with advertising in the Mercury for staff?
Reply ID 73663
you could poach a load of workers from Baan Thitiya - I'll put a good word in, seeing as they all live at the end of my road
Reply ID 73701
Victor Not sure how many Thai chefs read the Mercury, but you are correct if you are suggesting that I legally have to advertise any vacancies in the UK before recruiting from Thailand. It is much more economic for me to advertise in a catering publication. I have recruited many staff previously for other restaurants and I do not believe that many people in the UK have much desire to enter the catering trade especially when it requires expertise in Oriental food. thefair1973 I am sure your comment is tongue in cheek, but I would not want to poach staff from another local restaurant. I have been on the receiving end of staff poaching before and it can create a lot of problems for both parties. I do not wish to upset Baan Thitiya, there is room in the town for both of us and I don't see why we shouldn't remain on good terms. Having said that, having eaten there a few times, I would hope that we can do a better job, and therefore we would not necessarily want their staff. Please don't think that I am being critical of Baan Thitiya, some things they do are good. By the way both sets of staff get on well.
Reply ID 73714
Mosquito, I was thinking more along the lines of waiting staff. Agreed the best Thai Chefs would live in Thailand, but you never know.
Reply ID 73717
Victor, waiting staff are classed as unskilled labour therefore cannot be recruited outside Europe. Most restaurants, if they can't get local labour, use the dependants of work permit staff or students. Obviously being a chef is skilled and with it also being classed as a shortage occupation by the Home Office means that recruitment can take place outside Europe. That makes it sound easy but I can promise you that there are innumerable hurdles and barriers put in place to make it very difficult. For a start the business needs to be a Grade A Sponsor (which we are) meaning that the Home Office has rigorously checked that the business has a genuine need. This includes inspections, submission of accounts to the Home Office etc. Once this has been overcome, there is the points based system which is another complication. Not only that, it is very expensive. Hope this helps.
Reply ID 73720
Thank you for your reply, I did not know that law. I am glad that you are finally renovating the place as I proposed to my wife there when it first opened and its current state has saddend me everytime I pass every working day)(twice) I will definately give it another bash when you re-open. Good luck.
Reply ID 73721
Thank you Trust me, I have also been embarrassed and saddened by it's state. Unfortunately, I encountered a number of issues (some of which I mentioned earlier) which have either made it pointless or impossible to do anything prior to now. Hope you're still on the same wife![:D]
Reply ID 75734
Will the menu be changing? I love the current menu and there is a dish in particular which you cannot get in any other Thai restaurant [:)]
Reply ID 76629
Any update on this place? Still looks a long way from opening to me.
Reply ID 76635
I haven't set a date for opening. Fair bit of work still to do. All the structural stuff is done. It the internal fit which is taking time. But I think it will be worth it.
Reply ID 76637
Hi Mosquito - good luck for the refurbishment but you'll have to quell these rumours! Even my cab driver home last night was telling me how the HH had brought out the Thai Rack - I tried arguing with him based on the information from this forum but as with most cabbies I wasn't able to convince him.
Reply ID 76639
quote:You earlier post in April indicated it would be open around now hence my question. Hope its soon as I'm getting hungry!
Originally posted by Mosquito
I haven't set a date for opening. Fair bit of work still to do. All the structural stuff is done. It the internal fit which is taking time. But I think it will be worth it.
Reply ID 76651
Thanks for the replies. It seems that I underestimated the work involved. That's why it's taken longer. It is coming together nicely but still a few hurdles to overcome. I don't want to set a date because I want to make sure everything is in place before we open. First impressions count and we have all seen the result of certain premises rushing to open and then getting it wrong. I am not under financial pressure to open. Golden, don't worry I have probably added to the confusion by telling a few people poking their heads in that it's going to be a Nando's. I think Mr Shipton of HHH talks a good story. I could elaborate but better not! xbuttercupx, which dishes in particular do you mean? I will make sure they are included in the new menu. Thanks for the good wishes everyone.
Reply ID 77128
The dish in particular is crispy egg noodles topped with chicken prawns and veg in gravy.....we drove to St Albans thai rack just to get that dish lol........really looking forward to the opening....are you keeping on the same staff??? they were so welcoming and friendly :o)
Reply ID 77911
quote:Agreed, lovely people and lovely food. Look forward to the re-opening! Good luck
Originally posted by xbuttercupx
The dish in particular is crispy egg noodles topped with chicken prawns and veg in gravy.....we drove to St Albans thai rack just to get that dish lol........really looking forward to the opening....are you keeping on the same staff??? they were so welcoming and friendly :o)
Reply ID 77915
will it be this year ?
Reply ID 77916
I think it's going to be the second week of December. Just trying to finish off the menu, organise the staff etc. The wood interior of the restaurant is being sanded and protected at this moment. I don't want to set a particular date or have a 'Grand Opening'. I'm not really into that sort of thing. I will have a few friends round one night to check the systems etc, and if everything is ok then we will open. Cheers
Reply ID 77920
quote:....don't forget Mosquito I am definitely up for testing your systems! I saw Yanman yesterday and he was still interested too.
Originally posted by Mosquito
I think it's going to be the second week of December. Just trying to finish off the menu, organise the staff etc. The wood interior of the restaurant is being sanded and protected at this moment. I don't want to set a particular date or have a 'Grand Opening'. I'm not really into that sort of thing. I will have a few friends round one night to check the systems etc, and if everything is ok then we will open. Cheers
Reply ID 78279
Opening Tuesday 14th Dec.
Reply ID 78290
quote:As 'Old Siam'.
Originally posted by Mosquito
Opening Tuesday 14th Dec.
Reply ID 78292
Stuck my head through the partially ajar front door yesterday am. The fitters have a lot of work to do before Tuesday. Looking forward to this restaurant opening, I love Thai food and this should be an interesting alternative to Baan Thitiya
Reply ID 78294
quote:Looks great from the outside though!! Nice to see it being brought back from the tired old facade that was once there! I wish you all the best of luck and can't wait to visit soon
Originally posted by Jackanapes
Stuck my head through the partially ajar front door yesterday am. The fitters have a lot of work to do before Tuesday. Looking forward to this restaurant opening, I love Thai food and this should be an interesting alternative to Baan Thitiya
Reply ID 78306
Thanks, hope to see you all sometime,constructive feedback welcome!!
Reply ID 84452
Hi ....moved away from Hertford last October is the restaurant open now? Does it have a website? Name of restaurant etc.....Many thanks
Reply ID 84453
Old Siam. Check out the reviews on here. OH has eaten there and was very impressed.
Reply ID 84455
quote:http://www.oldsiamhertford.com
Originally posted by xbuttercupx
Hi ....moved away from Hertford last October is the restaurant open now? Does it have a website? Name of restaurant etc.....Many thanks